To the informed observer it’s clear we are increasingly in dangerous times. This isn’t alarmist thinking, it is the reality we collectively face. 

Every day, violence and unjust agendas undermine the work of building a hopeful future for everyone. Despite talks of negotiating peace in the two largest and deadliest conflicts in the world right now, the actions on the ground are far from assuring. Over the weekend, Israel seized more territory in the Gaza Strip, pushing civilians further from their places of refuge and killing dozens in multiple bombings. In Ukraine, Russia launched an air assult, one of the largest since the beginning of the war, targeting the capital city, including residential neighborhoods.

Terrible events away from the comforts of our everyday life can be difficult to comprehend or personalize, making the danger to us appear limited or non-existent. This, however, is a false sense of security for anyone concerned about their future. The emerging threat of the prospect of a new world war breaking out steadily grows while nations wearily calculate their level of engagement or disengagement. As people of hope and change, attentiveness to the moment we live in motivates us to pursue urgent and lasting transformation—for ourselves and each other.

A hopeful future is contingent on our shared resolve to seek positive, holistic outcomes. We recognize the integrated nature of humanity and the created order of the universe. As one human family, we share the same biological and spiritual bonds that have given us life since the beginning of time. Mutually living in creative tension with one another is what strengthens those bonds. In contrast, greed, injustice, segregation, and the trauma associated with suffering poses an existential threat because they degrade our physical and spiritual connections.

The conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are rooted in competing narratives among the people invested in them. At stake are cultural and ethnic identity, self-determination and independence, freedom from oppression and injustice, and the right to live free and prosperous lives. Palestinians, Israelis, Ukrainians, and Russians alike deserve such an existence. Aggression, threats, violence, and conquest cannot ultimately achieve this desired end.

On the other hand, hope seeks an equitable and holistic future where everyone belongs. Differences are expected, not excluded. Diversity is celebrated, not distrusted. Friendship is honored, not disregarded. Stories are shared, not erased. Compassion is normative, not rare. Achievement is communal, not individualistic.

People are capable of growing in humility, openness, and intentionality to discover common-ground solutions to the pressing issues of our time. The over-simplicity of dealmaking and military enforcement are insufficient and broken means of creating the future we desire. Integrating the experiences, values, and dreams of others into a broader global story is the only sustainable pathway forward. No single nation or person can or will lead that effort. Instead, it requires a diverse and thoughtful movement where this idealized future takes root in our local communities, positively shapes society, and transforms the world.

We must be clear-eyed about the current state of the world. Now is not the time to look away, prepare a shelter, or give up on humanity. Our best days are still ahead when we commit to enduring and just peace. A better tomorrow is coming when we create it and arrive in it together.

Hope and Justice For All

If you’re like me, you’re looking for compassionate hearts and rational minds in our chaotic world. Hope, change, and justice for everyone, everywhere require thoughtfulness, dedication, and courage to values-based living and leading. I believe that for myself—and for you. Will you join me in this consequential cause? You won’t find ads, paywalls, partner links, or random emails from me. I’m not for sale, and neither are you. However, this work does require support, and with your help, can remain accessible and uninterrupted. Please consider making a donation to keep weekly insights for hope and change available to you and others. Thank you!